Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye is reported to be in dire health after five days without food, his wife Winnie Byanyima revealed during a visit to the prison. Byanyima accused President Yoweri Museveni and his son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, of orchestrating what she described as Besigye’s “kidnapping” and unlawful detention.
A Dire Prison Encounter
Byanyima, who is also the Executive Director of UNAIDS, shared her harrowing experience of visiting Besigye in what she described as a “horrid” prison facility.
“I found him weak, alarmingly thin, and dizzy. He was lying on a small bed in a cramped room, surrounded by old newspapers and cardboard boxes. The humiliation is staggering. No one should endure this,” she stated in an emotional account.
Access to Besigye’s cell involved navigating through multiple locked doors in a narrow, dimly lit corridor. Byanyima claimed the facility is reportedly reserved for suspected terrorists, underscoring the severity of his confinement conditions.
Forced Meetings and Protest
Byanyima dismissed claims by Ugandan Information Minister Chris Baryomunsi that he met Besigye willingly in prison. According to her, Besigye was forced into the meeting, during which he remained silent in protest while Baryomunsi declared him “well.”
“This invasion of his privacy is a clear violation of his rights. The lies and impunity are staggering,” Byanyima said.
Legal and Political Turmoil
Besigye has been in detention since November after being charged in the military’s General Court Martial (GCM) with illegal weapons possession. His lawyers allege he was “kidnapped” in Kenya and forcibly returned to Uganda.
The case has sparked outrage among opposition leaders and activists, many of whom have been arrested during protests demanding Besigye’s release. Notable arrests include National Unity Platform (NUP) officials Fred Nyanzi and Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro, as well as Deputy Lord Mayor Nyanjura Doreen and activist Ingrid Turinawe.
Calls for Justice Intensify
Opposition parties, including NUP, have issued ultimatums to President Museveni, demanding Besigye’s release. “This is not just illegal detention; it is kidnapping,” Byanyima declared on social media platform X, urging international and local attention to Besigye’s plight.
The situation continues to draw widespread condemnation, with calls for justice and adherence to human rights echoing across Uganda and beyond.
